As of January 14, 2026, wind turbine news is dominated by a legal and political battle over U.S. offshore projects, alongside record-breaking technological advancements in China and new funding in the UK.
U.S. Offshore Wind Legal Battles
The U.S. wind industry is currently locked in a conflict with the Trump administration, which has sought to freeze major projects.
- Court Victories for Developers: On January 12, 2026, a federal judge ruled that construction can resume on the Revolution Wind project (Rhode Island/Connecticut). The judge called the administration’s suspension order “arbitrary and capricious”.
- Empire Wind at Risk: The developer of New York’s Empire Wind project, Equinor, warned that its project could be canceled by Friday, January 16, 2026, if a separate federal pause is not lifted. A judge is expected to issue a decision on this project by Thursday, January 15.
- National Security Pauses: The administration suspended leases for five major East Coast projects in late December 2025, citing concerns from the Pentagon that turbines could interfere with radar signals.
International Developments & Technology
- China’s Record Turbine: China has successfully installed the world’s first 20MW offshore wind turbine off the coast of Fujian Province. This single turbine is capable of powering approximately 44,000 homes. Plans for even larger infrastructure to support a 35MW turbine were also recently unveiled.
- UK Funding Success: The British government has awarded new contracts for wind farms that will eventually power 12 million homes. This includes funding for Wales’ first floating offshore wind farm, Erebus, and the Awel y Môr project.
- Innovative Designs: A pilot program in Oklahoma is testing Airloom Energy’s new design, which uses 82-foot poles in an oval shape with traveling blades to generate energy at a projected 66% lower cost than traditional turbines.
- Blade Recycling: Chinese manufacturer Mingyang recently announced a “quantum leap” with the development of a fully recyclable turbine blade.
Market & Corporate Updates
- Vestas Job Cuts: Danish manufacturer Vestas announced approximately 70 job cuts at its Ringkøbing factory on January 13, 2026.
- Nordex Record Orders: In contrast, German manufacturer Nordex reported a record 10.2GW of wind turbine orders for 2025.
- Leadership Changes: WindEurope has appointed former Belgian energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten as its new CEO, effective January 2026.